Flight Shaming

[Rambler 3]

What are your thoughts on flight shaming? This is a movement to encourage people to fly less often — or give up flying completely. Rail travel is encouraged instead. Not sure if I want to give up planes quite yet.

[didge 11]

Before flight shaming took off, most of us had no idea that commercial flying contributes to environmental pollution through the emission of carbon. Perhaps people are beginning to become aware because like the article points out, one in five passengers is now flying less.

[Gareth The Great 20]

I don't agree with shaming in general as it never solves the problem. Plus, rails can't go everywhere that a plane can go and sometimes time is of the essence.

[didge 11]

I don't agree with shaming in general as it never solves the problem. Plus, rails can't go everywhere that a plane can go and sometimes time is of the essence.

Yes, it never solves the problem, but maybe it helps to get the information out there. With increased awareness, there is likely to be an effort to reduce these emissions. There is no day all of us will ever stop flying anyway!

[ShadowEdge 48]

I just don't understand why they go after regular people who are boarding planes with lots of other people. They have to get somewhere and they're using the resource responsibly. It's the equivalent of carpooling in the sky. Why not focus on shaming the politicians, the super wealthy, the religious leaders, and the movie stars who fly on private jets instead?

[whaleshark 4]

Yeah... Where do we wisely draw the line? There's so much said about travel being educational and eye-opening. Should we wait for virtual reality to advance until we could zip through countries with VR headsets?

[Guest Pluto]

Yeah... Where do we wisely draw the line? There's so much said about travel being educational and eye-opening. Should we wait for virtual reality to advance until we could zip through countries with VR headsets?

If VR headsets can send us to faraway countries, I will buy it regardless of the price!

 

Raising awareness is good, but creating solutions instead of just encouraging mass quit is even better. If people can avoid simply bashing the companies or creators, we should be open to criticism.

[Zack T 171]

Shaming people is ridiculous. The real world practicality is that you simply cannot expect the world to function as it currently does without flights. If you wanted everyone to stop flying and use boats or trains or cars instead, shipments would take much longer, be more expensive, and we'd all hate it.

 

Instead, let's rally to get airline developers to build more eco friendly airplanes, as well as push for conversion to renewable energy instead of fossil fuels for these planes, cars, whatever.

 

It'll take time to phase them all in, can't just instantly do a big switch-over, but if we get started then we'll eventually finish.

[Rambler 3]

Taking a long road trip soon. Not sure if all that driving will be much better than taking a short plane ride. Paying for hotels and food will contribute to other towns' economies, at least.

[didge 11]

Instead, let's rally to get airline developers to build more eco friendly airplanes, as well as push for conversion to renewable energy instead of fossil fuels for these planes, cars, whatever.

I agree with you. It is pointless to try and embarrass frequent flyers and expect them to stop flying to 'save' the planet. There needs to be a scientific interpretation as to whether or not such reductions in air travel are justifiable, in as far as environmental protection is concerned.